ALmost as soon as Trade it self began to Flourish in this King­dom, Aliens endeavour'd to be Sharers in it; And be­cause they might have the same Freedom therein that English-men had, they (by some good Interest or other,) got Patents of Denization, and by that means paid no greater or higher Customs than the English Merchants: But they (it seems) being formerly in Co-partnership with other Aliens, (who still re­mained so,) could not be contented with the Benefits they had pro­cured for themselves, but Clandestinly covered the Stocks and Ad­ventures of the others. The Perniciousness whereof appearing, it was thought fit to put a thorow stop to such Proceedings. And at a Parliament held in the first year of King Henry the Seventh it was thus Enacted, viz.

However, the shifting Humours of those Times (corresponding much with our present Age,) found out another way to Defraud the King of his Due, and his Loyal Subjects of their Trade: For find­ing the aforesaid Act, exactly put in Execution; The Aliens then, by Rewards, &c. Procured English-men to enter their Goods in English Names, which Un-natural practice was also soon found out; and to prevent any further Progress therein, it was Enacted the third year of the aforesaid King Henry the Seventh: ‘ 3 Hen. 7. That no manner of Merchant, Denizen, or Stranger do take upon him to Enter, or cause to be Entred, in the Books of any Customer in any Port within this Realm, any manner of Merchandizes coming into the said Realm, or going but of the same, in any other Merchants Name, saving only the Names of the true Mer­chant owner of the same, upon pain of Forfeiture of all such Goods and Merchandizes so Entred: And every of the said Merchants which shall so take upon him to cause such un­true Entry to be made, to have Imprisonment, and make Fine therefore at the Kings pleasure.’

So that by this Act that shift also was cut off; and 'tis reasonable to believe, that due Process was made against all English-men who [Page 3]became in any manner Trangressors thereof; for that the Aliens did not thenceforth seek farther Protection from them, but returned to their Old Co-partners that were made Denizens; with whom they drove so vast a Trade, that it became obvious to all the English Mer­chants: And in regard the Statute of the First of King Henry the Seventh was by that time grown somewhat old, another was made to the same purpose in the Eleventh year of the said King Henry the Seventh, in these words, ‘ 11 Hen. 7.14. Where the King our Soveraign Lord is greatly Deceived in his Customs and Subsidies by Merchants and Strangers, such as the King our Soveraign Lord hath Granted by his Letters Patents to be Denizens, and to pay no other Custom or Subsidies for their Merchandize In­ward or Outward, but as a Denizen; under colour whereof they Custom not only their own Merchandizes under the form aforesaid; but also they colourably enter into the Cu­stomers Books the Merchandizes of other Strangers, cal­ling and saying the said Goods of other Merchants to be the Goods of them so made Denizens, to the great Loss and Defraud of the King our Soveraign Lord: Wherefore be it Enacted by the King our Soveraign Lord, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Commons in this present Parliament Assembled, and by Authority of the same, that all Merchant Strangers, and others that be made Denizens by the Kings Letters Patents, or otherwise, pay from hence­forth such Customs and Subsidies for their Goods and Mer­chandizes Inward and Outward, as they should have paid, if such Letters and Patents had never to them been made.’

Thus you see what great care was taken for the Advance of Trade in the days of that Good King; And if you look into the Chronicles of his Time, you will find what vast Treasure he left behind him; and no doubt but that a great part thereof arose from the greatness of the Subjects Trade, and the due payment of His Majestie, Cu­stoms and Subsidies.

And though almost the whole Reign of King Henry the Eighth was accompanied with Wars and Disturbances, either with the French, Scots, or the Pope; yet was not the Con­sideration of Trade laid aside; for in the twenty second year of his Reign, 22 Hen. 8. cap. 8. the foregoing Acts of [Page 4]the First and Eleventh years of King Henry the Seventh were in Par­liament Confirmed, and all Subsidies, Customs, Tolls, Duties, and other Sums of Money were continued on the said Aliens made De­nizens, as they should or ought to have paid before they were Deni­zens, any Grant or Grants to them made, or hereafter to be made, or any Act or Acts, Statute or Ordinance, to the contrary made or had not withstanding.

In the Reign of King Edward the Sixth. ‘ 2 and 3 Ed. 6. cap, 22. The Penalty of Customing other mens Goods, whereby the King looseth his Duty; is the Forfeiture of all the Goods and Chattels, and personalls for ever: The Informer half; to be Prosecuted within three Years, else void.’

Queen Mary was so entangled in Religious Matters, that the Par­liaments in her dayes seem'd to wave all other concerns; and it was but very short also, which perhaps might be the Reasons we hear so little of Trade therein.

But no sooner came that Mirrour of her Sex Queen Elizabeth to the Crown, but a review was made; and in the very first year of her Reign it was Enacted, ‘ 1 Eliz. cap. 11. That from and after the first day of September, no person Denizen, no Stranger do take upon him to Enter, or do, or cause to be Entred into the Books of any Customer, or any other Officer or Officers of any Port or Haven within this Realm, or his, or their De­puty or Deputies, Servant or Servants, any manner of Goods, Wares or Merchandize whatsoever, coming or brought into your Highness's Realm, from any the parts beyond the Sea; or faom the Realm of Scotland, or going to be Tran­sported out of the same your Highnesses Realm into any the Parts beyond the Seas, or into the Realm of Scotland; in the Name or Names of any Person or Persons, than the very Owner or Owners of the same Goods, Wares or Mer­chandizes, being not Sold, Bargained or Contracted for, to or with any Person or Persons, before such Entry, or before the Arrival of such Goods, Wares or Merchandizes in the parts beyond the Sea, upon pain of Forfeiture of the value of the Goods so Entred.’

So that by this Act, neither Alien or Denizen is permitted to Enter any other mans Goods in his own Name; which Statute without [Page 5]doubt was effectually put in Execution: For that in all her Reign, as well as King James and King Charles the first, no farther Provision is made against them, or Rehearsal made of any of the foregoing Statutes.

The Unnatural Wars coming on, gave liberty to every man to Act his pleasure in Trade, as well as in Religion; But no sooner was the Grand Pilot of the universe pleas'd to bring our most Gracious King that now is, to His own Kingdoms again, but that he steers the wholesom course of his Ancestors, and in the very first year of his Reign, the twelth Article annexed to the Book of Rates speaks thus, ‘ 12 Article Book of Rates. The Merchants Strangers, who according to the Rates and Dalues in this Book con­tain'd, do pay double Subsidy for Lead. Tinn, Woolen-cloaths; shall also pay double Custom for Native Manufactures of Wool: And the said Strangers are to pay for all other Goods, as well Inwards as Outwards, Rated to pay the Subsidy of Poundage, three pence in the Pound, or any other Duty payable by Charta Mercatoria, be­sides the Subsidy.’

None of these Acts have in general been Repealed, but by an Act of Parliament in the twenty fifth year of His Majesties Reign 25 Car. 2.all Alien Duties upon Commo­dities of the Growth, Product and Manufacture of this Nation (except Coals) is taken off, and the Alien pays no more then English: But the Alien Duty is continued on all Foreign Commodities.

Hitherto we have treated of the Antient and Modern Statutes which have relation to Trade in general, and by all of them it appears that from time to time, Aliens have been obliged to pay an higher Duty than an English-man; And there is good reason for it, for otherwise the Ballance of Trade and Commerce could never be held upright: We English-men pay more Duties in Foreign Parts to any Prince or State, than their own Subjects do; And if they were not obliged to the same here, they might Under-sell us, and yet be Gainers; And what would become of our Trade if this were admit­ted. And these Acts seem to say, ‘ That the Alien made Denizen here, continued his Co-partnership with his former Part­ner who was a Denizen in some Foreign part, and one owning the Goods here, and the other there, past as free Denizens on both sides; by which means they could Vnder­sell [Page 6]either English or Alien, who are necessitated to pay Alien Duty either here or there.’ Besides, that 'tis very much to be feared, that many an English Merchant wilfully covers the Goods of Aliens in his own Name: Also that the Jews who have Patents of Denization, with a Clause inserted, That they shall pay no more Custom than the English do, non obstante, all the Precedent and subsequent Acts of Parliament recited in this Treatise, do make use of them in Covering, Entring and Owning other Jews Goods which have no such Patents, or any Patents at all, (for though many of the Jews have Patents of Denization, yet few of them could pre­vail to have that Clause inserted,) and I am told that none for the future must ever expect the like Favour again, our most Gracious King having declared He will Govern by Law: And how some of them have abused His Majesties great Favour to them, will appear by the Encroachments they make on our Plantation Trade in Ame­rica: A brief account whereof follows.

Before I come to declare matter of Fact, I think it proper to re­cite as much of the several Acts of Parliament made to secure our Plantation Trade as may be necessary for Information of the Readers, (some whereof perhaps seldom have the conveniency of looking in­to a Statute Book) and will begin with the Act of Navigation made in the twelth year of the King, viz. ‘ 12 Car. 2. For the Increase of Ship­ping, and Encouragement of the Navigation of this Realm, wherein (under the good Providence of God,) the Wealth, Safety and Strength of this Kingdom is so much concerned: Be it Enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majesty, and by the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament As­sembled, and by the Authority thereof: That from and after the first day of December 1660. and from thenceforth no Goods or Commodities whatsoever shall be Imported in­to, or Exported out of any Lands, Islands, Plantations or Terri­tories to His Majesty belonging, or in his Possession, or which may hereafter belong unto, or be in the Possession, of His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, in Asia, Africa or Ame­rica, in any other Ship or Ships, Dessel or Dessels what­soever, but in such Ships or Dessels as do truly and with­out fraud belong only to the People of England, or Ireland, Dominion of Wales, or Town of Berwick upon Tweed, or are [Page 7]of the Built of, or belonging to any the said Lands, Islands, Plantations or Territories as the Proprietors, and right Owners thereof; and whereof the Master and three fourths of the Mariners at least are English, under the Penalty of the Forfeiture and Loss of all the Goods, &c.’

And a little after in the said Act, ‘ Aliens not to be Factors in the Plan­tations. Be it Enacted that no Alien, or person not born within the Allegiance of our Sovereign Lord the King, His Heirs or Successors, or Naturalized, or made a Free Denizen, shall from and after the first day of February, which shall be in the year of our Lord 1661. Exer­cise the Trade or Occupation of a Merchant or Factor in any the said places, upon pain of the Forfeiture and Loss of all his Goods and Chattels, or which are in his possession.’ But that multitudes of Jews do live as Factors and Merchants at this day in His Majesties Plantations contrary to this, as all Traders thither know. And further it is said, No Goods to be brought from the Plantations but in English Dessels, ut Supra.

Encouragement is also given to the Plantation Trade by another Act of Parliament of the same year; Entituled, 12 Car. 2. An A [...] for prohibiting the Planting, Setting, or Sowing of Tobacco in England or Ireland. The said Act of Navigation is again confirmed and Inforced by another Act of Parliament in the Fourteenth year of the King; Entituled, 14 Car. 2. An act for preventing Frauds, and Regulating Abuses in His Majesties Customs. Al­so in the Fifteenth year of the King another Act; Entituled, 15 Car. 2. An Act for the Encouragement of Tade, was made, and amongst other things it was thus Enacted.

Also in the twenty second and twenty third years of the King, the due Observation of the said Acts is again En­forced, 22, and 23. Car. 2. by an Act Entituled, An Act to prevent the Planting of Tobacco in England, and for Regulating the Plantation Trade. And by another Act in the five and twentieth [Page 9]year of the King; Entituled, An Act for the Encouragement of the Greenland and Eastland Trades; and for the better securing the Plantation Trade. 25 Car. 2. So that it plain­ly appears by the multiplicity of the Acts made in this Kings Reign already, (there having been no less than seven) and the great Penalties laid on Merchants, Owners of Ships, and Officers of the Customs who are concerned therein, that no care hath been wanting to oblige us to a due Observance thereof: Yet if we take a strict view of the present Practices of the Jews, we shall, find that, they not only break through these Laws made with a particular Relation to our Plantation Trade, but also through all the former made to oblige them to the payment of Alien Duty; with­out which, (as I said before) no true Ballance of Trade can possibly be kept.

And in regard the Jews are a sort of Persons admired at, by most Trading People all the World over, as well as here in England, for their great Wealth and that they all know it flows from the abun­dance of their Trade and Commerce; and yet that they carry it on with so much Subtilty, covering all in other mens Names, that none but a person designed to dive into their Ways and Methods of Trade; and leaving almost all other Concerns behind his back; together with a resolution to stand his Point, come what will on't, Poverty, Imprisonment, or (rather than fail) Life it self, is fit to attempt so Crabbed a concern, as to touch them to the quick: It came into my thoughts to endeavour it; and really the true value I have for our Nation in General, and for the Merchants thereof in par­ticular, I have adventured to begin it, and beg the Readers pardon for a small digression, to shew that I was in some measure prepared for it, before I began. And it thus was, before I was 16 years of Age, which was in the year 1661. I was Clerk Assistant to Joseph Ash Esq Collector for the Customs of Plymouth and Cornwall, with whom I remained about seven years, then turned Adventurer at Sea, and particularly to the Plantations in America: When the last Dutch War came on, I had Employs at Plymouth, both in the Prize-Office and Ad­miralty; And after that was ended, I Traded into France, till the Pro­hibition Act came on; and leaving that endeavoured for an Imploy in the Customs again: Which was granted mein the Month of June 1680. To be riding Surveyor for the Customes in the Counties of Devon and Cornwall: My old Mr. Ash also gave me another Commission to be Surveyor of the Act of Navigation in those Counties, and was so kind [Page 10]also, to joyn with my my Noble Friend Sir John Coryton Baronet, in a Bond for my Fidelity.

Being thus furnished with Commissions, having all the precedent Laws at my Fingers end, General Notions of the usual Actions of those whose Magazine of our Plantation Trade lyes at Amsterdam, Rot­terdam, &c. I set on with a firm Resolution to put all the foregoing Acts of Parliament in Execution against every Person, Jew or Chri­stian, Merchant or Officer, that I could meet with who were wilful Offenders therein, in my Districts with hopes also that my Brethren who had the care of other Places subject to the same evil practices, would in time follow my example: And the reasons which most of all animated me thereunto were. 1st. The Removal of the Staple of Commerce which the Jews had done, and continue still to do, from England to Holland, most of their Cargoes for the Plantations being made up of the Growth, Product and Manufacture of those parts, and none of English; So that the Act of Trade recited, fol. 7. is plain­ly controverted, which directs, ‘ That as the People of those Parts are English, so then should be Fed, Cloathed, &c. by the Product of England: And if any Foreign Commodities, either for Necessity, Ornament or Curiosity were proper to be vended there, yet they should come from England:’ No doubt, intending thereby that every sort of Trade here in England, should be somewhat Gainers by what they supply the Plantations with. And here it will not be amiss to consider how much difference may arise betwixt a Cargo made up altogether of Forreign Commo­dities here in London, and the same quantity in Amsterdam or Rot­terdam; an instance only in Linnens, for Example, Because the Jews in Barbadoes Sell more Hollands there, than all the English Mer­chants do; and the Alien-Duty amounts to a great sum of Money yearly, which the King is wholly Cheated of. The Merchant here imploy; his Factor in Amsterdam to buy it, and allows him his Commission for it, who Ships it there; the Ship arrives here, and the Master hath his Fraight paid him, also the King is duly paid his Duties, and the Officers their Fees, the City Duties of Whar­fage, &c. also is duly paid, and thence is conveyed to the Mer­chants Ware-house by Porters or Carmen. where it remains till the Merchants can meet with a Draper to buy it, his Ware-house-room is valued according to the time it lyes, and all contingent Charges added to the prime Cost by the Merchant; then the Merchant ad­ding also so much per cent. for his Adventure, &c. As the Market will [Page 11]bear; parts with it to the Draper, who is at Charge to carry it home, and of Shop or Ware house room till he dispose of it again; to which he also adds so much per cent. for Disburse of his Money, &c. And then comes a Merchant Adventurer to him to buy what sorts of Lin­nen he hath occasion to furnish his Factor with in the Plantations, afterwards comes other Charges on, as Cartidge, Porterage, Whar­fidge, Custom Officers Fees, &c. All which must be added in his Envoyce to his Factor in the Plantations: And you shall commonly find abundance of Entries and Coequets to be had here in London, and many out-Ports too on any considerable Ship going for the Plan­tations, which much increases the Officers Fees, and Imploys abun­dance of poor Labouring persons, as well as Merchants and Trades­men. On the contrary, you shall have a set of Jews at Amsterdam sharers with the Jews at London, Barbadoes, New-york, Jamaica, &c. who pass every where paying no more Duties than Natives of that place where the Goods at any time are, joyn in a lump together; and at Amsterdam or Rotterdam make up their Cargoes; when all is on board, they either agree with the Commander of the Ship to come and Enter all, or have private Correspondence with some English Merchant in an out-Port, (or their Partners here in London have,) who direct their Correspondent in such out. Port to make such Entryes as they before-hand have concluded at Amsterdam or Rotterdam, the most usual Ports which they frequent, are Dover, Cowes and Falmouth, though sometimes some other Ports betwixt Dover and Falmouth, and there the whole Cargo is Entred together in some Englishmans Name, to avoid payment of their Alien Duty due to the King: The Detection and prevention whereof was the se­cond Reason that moved me to endeavour so Vigorously to put the Antient Statutes in Execution, knowing that the King hath already lost many thousands thereby; and that it is also a very great Abuse in the Ballance of Trade, and that both goes on in the same Channel to this day, is the main reason that I now appear publickly in Print, thereby to let every one see how they are Impos'd upon. And now considering what hath been said of the difference betwixt making up a Cargo here, and at Amsterdam or Rotterdam for these Plantations, and the Cheats the Jews also put on His Majesty in His Dutie, I con­fidently affirm the Cargoes from Amsterdam or Rotterdam are made at least 10 per cent. cheaper than those in London can be, and conse­quently may be Sold so in the Plantations; let us then look into their Actions back again, and compare a Ship Loaden by many particular [Page 12]Merchants at Barbadoes for London; and supposing her whole Cargoe might meet with a better Market in Forreign Ports than here in London, and that accordingly all goes off for Holland. You will find that any Ship at Barbadoes which comes to seek a Fraight (for such generally the Jews take up) will go for Amsterdam or Rotterdam for the same Fraight they will for London; (except a Winter be coming on.) for if they do well in their Home Voyage, 'tis ten to one but they meet with further Imploy back again; or in failure of that, are nearer the Sound or Norway, &c. to fetch home a Cargo from thence to London, And on this ground compute, that every one of the Merchants concerned pay Custom Officers Fees, Unload all, ( Bona Fide) according to Law pay Lighterage, Wharfage, Portridge, Cartage, Cooperage and Sellerage, &c. Till they Sell them, and then dispose of them to a Merchant Adventurer to Holland, who before they arrive into his Factors hands there, payes the other Merchant here, is at all other particular Charges, &c. Till they are Ship'd on Board, and of Fraight from hence to Holland, adding thereto so much per Cent. as the Merchant Adventurers from the Plantations may in reason expect, together with the other Merchant who buyes them for an Hollands Market, for laying out of his Money, and Risque thi­ther; And judge whether, on the other hand the Jews, as I said be­fore, carrying on their Trade in a Lump, Enter a multitude of mens Goods in one English-mans Name, come into some small Out-Port, and only Unloading part of the Cargo which lyes topmost, leaving the ground Tyre, and all other parts subject to Breach and loss intire, to pass by Computation, and thereby preserve not only the goodness of those Sugars which commonly lie in the bottom, but also preserve great quantities, which by removal of broken Butts, &c. usual­ly becomes lost, and many times under them conceal Goods of great value from the Eyes of any Officer, (whose Perjur'd Actions guides to such Diabolical Condescentions;) may not thereby be enabled to Sell when the Ship arrives at Amsterdam or Rotterdam aforesaid for 10 per Cent. Lower than an English-man in his usual way of Trade at this day can do.

So that if this be granted, (which I Challenge all the Jews in Europe and America to deny if they can,) they may in every voyage from Amsterdam or Rotterdam to Barbadoes, and back again to Am­sterdam or Rotterdam, Sell 20 per Cent. Cheaper than the English. And this is the main, if not only Reason, our Merchants have to complain of the small Advance they make in our Plantation Trade, [Page 13]our Markets are generally govern'd by the Dutch, the Jews can un­der-sell us there, and yet grow rich by it, and will do; so as long as they are permitted to Trade contrary to our Laws: On the other hand, let them be obliged to pay Alien Duty according to the Antient Sta­tutes, and fully obey the Acts of Navigation and Trade made 12, and 15 Car. 2. and then let them be able to under-sell the English if they can; for I affirm, 'tis their breach of the Laws of the Nations they Trade in, and not their Frugality only, that is the cause of their In­crease in Wealth.

And our Officers in some out-Ports, are so kind as to admit pro­hibited Goods amongst others to an Entry from Holland, and thence to New-York. The first and only Entry that hath been made by any Jew in his own Name in any out-Port of England, follows, viz.

Let any Merchant in England now view this Entry, and try if he can possibly conclude that all these Marks being 10 belong to Emanuel Ro­drigo, for my part I know the contrary; and that though this Rodrigo pays but English Custom himself, being one of those who got the fore­going Clause incerted, that he should pay no more than English, yet most of these Goods belong to other Jews, which have no such Clause incerted in their Pattents of Denization, and to some who have no Pattents at all; and particularly to Edmond Dionis a Jew, who pays Alien Duty here in London; and upon Enquiry 'tis easie to find out to whom many other Parcols did belong; But this is a very small Cargo in respect of others whose particulars I have not by me: But let any one view the Quarter Books of Dover, he shall find enough; for there the Act of Frauds, 14 Car. 2. which directs, [Page 15] ‘ That the Master or Purser of every Ship or Dessel, shall make a Just and True Entry upon Dath of the Burthen, Contents and Loading of every Ship or Dessel, with the particular Marks, Numbers, Qualities and Contents of every Parcel of Goods in their Loading, and who are the Owners thereof.’ Is past by without regard, and a whole Cargo admitted in one Entry, what reason the Pattent-Officers have to pass it so, I know not, (for their Fees is due on every particular Parcel, as much as on the whole Entred at once) except one greater Bribe come in the room thereof; Neither can I fathom their reason of running the Risque of their places, by giving Cocquets for Goods to go to the Plantations, which are never unloaded in England: I am also perswaded that Goods may lye Concealed in such Cases, and thereby the King be defrauded of great part of his Dues, as it was lately demonstrated there; a Ship coming in from Holland, cleared at Dover for New-York, she had great quantities of Dutch Bricks and Grindstones on Board, pretended to be for her Ballast; And though indeed it was Merchandize, and Entred, yet were they not unloaded according to Law; the Ship had her dispatches, and was gone to Sea, but by bad Weather was forced back, and by acci­dent Cast away or Stranded; and then behold, under her Bricks and Grindstones appeared great quantities of Guns, and other Goods both prohibited and Uncustomed, which the diligent Officers never dream'd of; but this Case is very true, and may serve to whet up their Memories against more Ships come to Clear there on the same score.

Having thus demonstrated the usual ways of the Jews, which of necessity proves both Advantagious to them, and Destructive to the English I proceed to show you, how I met with a Cargo of their; in my Districts, and what Flardships I have already endured for en­deavouring to put a stop to their Illegal proceedings, and oblige them to a thorough conformity to all the precedent Laws, and thus it began.

In the Month of October 1680. I was in Cornwall, and accidentally informed. That at Falmouth a great Ship had been Cleared there from Barbadoes for Amsterdam, without Unloading her whole Corgo according to Law, on which I went thither; and in my way, at Truro met with several Merchants, &c. of Penryn and Falmouth, who had that day been at the [...] of Tinn in that Town, and with them I rid to Penryn, amongst them happened to be a Servant of [Page 16]Sir Peter Killigrew's; I stayed but few hours at Penryn (the Wind be­ing at Northwest, which was fair to set Sail for Holland,) but went that night for Falmouth; where I found that my Information was true, and it being Sunday the next day, I intended only to have an Eye upon the Ship, and on Monday to examine into the Truth of the whole. But on Sunday morning, to my surprize, I was invited to Dinner by Sir Peter; accordingly I waited on him, and after Din­ner he took me aside, and told me divers things relating to that Ship, which made me very much admire, for that I knew Sir Peter was not bred a Merchant, and that this Ship in particular was disparch'd by Mr. Bryan Rogers a great Merchant in that place: But I soon found out the meaning of his being so Earnest, and it was this, Sir Peter Killigrew had a little before Built a Key at the Rump end of the Town of Falmouth, and Houses thereon; which Key he got by Friendship to be declared the only publick Key for Shipping and Un­loading of Goods and Merchandize, according to the Act of Frauds 14 Car. 2. which did belong to that Town and other Ports adjacent, (though to that very place it is no more proper, than for all the Goods that come into London to be Landed at Ratcliffe) And a Merchant dwelling in the Body of the Town, near the Market­place, protested that the Charges of Landing his Goods at that Key, and bringing them to his House, cost him as much as the Fraight thereof from Plymouth did, (which is about 20 Leagues di­stant,) also the Custom-house &c. was newly settled there and this was the first Ship of any great concern that ever had Unloaded at that Key, which had acted so ill, that he doubted it might admi­nister new matter of debate, &c. In fine, I promised Sir Peter not to act any thing till morning, and then would be as moderate as the Case would possibly bear, and Sir Peter promised the Ship, (being called the Experiment of London, Henry Sutton Master,) should not stir; and so we parted, with intention to meet again next morning: On which I went towards my Lodging and in the way met Mr. Da­niel Shewell the Surveyor, with whom I had some Discourse, and then went into my Lodging, being the Sign of the F [...]eece, kept by Mr. Dennis Russel, Notary publick, and then Mayor of the Town; I had not been there long before Mr. Mayor came accidentally into our Company, and said, He thought the Quaker was mad, (meaning Sutton the Master of the Ship) for that he was hunting about for his men to get them on board, in order to set Sail immediately for Amster­dam: Then 'twas high time for me to stir, and accordingly I did, [Page 17]getting on board as soon as possibly I could, where I laid a stop on the Ship, put Wayters on board, &c. to secure her; And because I knew all the Officers in Falmouth had some hand in her Illegal dis­patches, &c. And that I could depend on the Friendship of none there but Mr. George Wethiell Deputy Customer, and Mr. Peter Hill Land-wayter; I sent to Mr. Thomas Enys Collector of Penryn for assistance, which I readily had, and so the Ship was stopt: The next morning early, I had notice that the Mr. endeavoured to force his way, on which I applyed to Major Collins Deputy Governour of Pendennis Castle, under the Right Honourable my Lord Arundel of Trerice, for assistance in Case of necessity; who frankly complyed with my Request, and assured me the Ship should not go out with­out my Order; Then I returned to meet Sir Peter Killigrew at Custom­house, where I found both Him and Mr. Rogers; I told them on what grounds I had stopt the Ship, that the Goods were Forfeited by the Acts of Tunnage and Poundage the 12 Article to the Book of Rates and by other Statutes, they being Jews Goods, which ought to pay Alien Custom, and contrary to Law had been all Entred in the Name of Henry Sutton an Englishman: They both seemed con­cerned at the Discovery, and used many Arguments to perswade me to let the Ship pass; and particularly, for my so doing, I should have 50 Guineys, and the best Horse Sir Peter had: But all their Arguments prevail'd no farther with me, than that I would give them a Meeting again next morning, by which time I had got the following Information from five Sea-men belonging to the same Ship on Oath, viz.

Accordingly we met next morning, and then I shewed them the aforesaid Assidavit, which very much startled them, and particular­ly the concealment of the said Guns; the knowledge of which, both Sir Peter Killigrew and Mr. Bryan Rogers utterly denyed, and Mr. Sutton the Quaking Mr. said, 'twas false, and then again fell at me with Temptations, and would have risen to one hundred Guineys; But I plainly told them I had not taken up my Commissions, been Sworn thereon, taken the Sacrament Test, &c with a design to break them all, or any of them, let the Temptation be never so con­venient or great: But that I would acquaint the Commissioners of what I had done; and though all, or most of the foresaid Laws lay very hard in divers particulars, yet I would proceed with all the mo­deration that possibly I could: But these words could not calm the Spirit of Sir Peter, who saw that the whole Story would be laid open, and consequently that some Damage might in time come to his Key, or that some humour of his might be thereby crost, &c. He parted away, Protesting he would be Revenged on me if it cost him 2000 l. And the next day the Master Protested against me as followeth. &c.

By this Information and Protest, you may plainly see that the Ship had not been unloaden ( Bona fide) according to Law; that some Goods had been Concealed without Entry; and that the Ship had so proceeded for Amsterdam had I not put a stop to her: The next thing requisite, is to see what Goods were Entred, and by whom; which was, viz.

The Alien Duty hereon is totally omitted, being one quarter part, which amounts to the sum of 84 l. 9 s. 3 d. ½ of which the King is wholly deceived. On unloading the Ship, I found the Goods to be marked with 35 distinct Marks, and I also found other Goods over and above the foregoing Entry, the particulars whereof follow, viz.

• Two Hogsheads of White Sugar qt. 16 C. 0 qr. 0 l.
• 3 Hogsheads of Tobacco qt. 1000 l.
• A Parcel of Ginger qt. 89 C. 1 qr. 25 l.
• A Parcel of Fustick qt. 21 C. 0 qr. 0 l.
• A Parcel of Lignum Vitae qt. 59 C 0 qr. 0 l.
• 3 Copper Guns qt. 13054 l. weight, valued at 871 l. 4 s. 0 d.
• The Custom of which Goods would amount to 67 l. 9 s. 6 d.
• Add hereunto the Alien Duty aforesaid 84 9 3¼.
• And in all it amounts to the sum of 153 l. 16 s. 9 d. ¼

Which is near one third part of the whole customes, besides all the Charge of unloading their Ground Tyre, &c Besides the Officers Fees, which in that Port for every Alien Entry is 8 [...] and for every Alien Debenture 10 s. Now we may with greater reason believe that every particular Mark here belonged to a particular person and ought so to be Entred according to Law, than that so many Marks should belong to one Man and a Master of a Ship too, and they are 35. every one whereof ought to have an Entry Inward, ano­ther Outwards and a Debenture, each of which comes to 6 s. by an Alien; and for 35 is 44 l. 0 d. 0 s. and the Officers have but 0 l. 15 s. 0 d. by an English, so are paid 43 l. 7 s. 0 d. short, and so much is saved to the Jews, which added to the former 153 l. 16 s 9 d ¼. makes up 193 l 03 s 9 d ¼ Cheat to the King in his Duty and the Officers in their Fees of the Cargo of this one Ship from the Barba­does, though loaden with Goods which payes but small Duty, (ex­cept the small quantity of Tobacco) and with Cotton-Wool which payes no Custom at all. As soon as Sir Peter, &c. saw that nothing could be done with me, but what the Law did direct, the said Henry Sutton was privately dispatch'd away for London; and as soon as I heard of it (which was some days after) I was advised to speed thi­ther too, which I did; but Sutton had made such haste, as that he was come back again to Honiton in Devonshire by the time I got thither in my Journey toward London: And being met there, he told me, that he had procured an Order from the Commissioners to clear the Ship, I demanded to see it; but he told me, 'twas in the Male, which could not there be opened; so I took an opportunity to write to my Friends at Falmouth, not to part with the Ship till they heard from [Page 23]me at London, and proceeded thither, where I found that Sir Peter Killigrew, together with the Collector and Surveyor of Falmouth, had mis-represented the Case to the Commissioners, who had there­upon wrote to us Officers joyntly, (when our Interest was separate, (for the Collector and Survey or had Illegally dispatch'd the Ship, and I was Prosecuting the forfeiture;) declaring that they saw no cause why the Ship or Goods should be detained. But before I made my appearance before the Commissioners, I stated my Case in writing to Mr. Attorney General, and Mr. Searjeant Maynard, who gave under their Hands, that the Goods were Forfeited, &c. Also I had the Opinion of some of the Antientest and Ablest Officers of the Customs, who declared the same, and then at a day appointed at­tended the Commissioners, who then were present, being My Lord Cheyne, Francis Milliagton and John Ʋpt [...]n Esqrs Mr. Hutchinson appeared there as Solicitor for the Jews; and in the Council Cham­ber I produced my Opinion of Council, and 'twas concluded the Law was clear on my side: Mr. Hutchinson Argued that a great part of the Goods did belong to Jews who were made Denizens, and produced two Patents of Denization, which were read by Mr John Sanson; and in the first of them, the Clause, that they should pay no more Custom than English, was not Incerted and Mr. Sanson told them, 'twas not for their purpose; then the other was read, in which Mr. Anthony Gomasera and Mr. Anthony Losado were Named and that Clause Inserted; and 'twas said, That would do. I immediately demanded how much of her Cargo belonged to them, but could have no answer: Than I was left to try the Title at Law at my own Risque and Charge; Indeed my Lord Cheyne said, That their Purses were too Heavy for me, and that they would be too hard for me, if the Commissioners did not stand by me: But Mr. Ʋpton (then one of the Commissioners) appeared openly against me, saying, I was too pe [...], and that I aimed to grow Rich at once: And at another time, few days after, when I acquainted the Board that I was told the Jews did design to Arrest me, Mr. Ʋpton said, He wondred that they let me alone so long and would not agree to Protect me, though my Lord Cheyne offered it again.

Being thus left to the wide World, I returned to Falmouth, and Mr Sutton was again come for London, leaving the Managery of his Concerns with Mr Bryan Rogers; my Attorney sent me down a Wait of Appraisement naming the Officers of Falmouth for Commissioners. Mr. Rogers by Directions from London, desired me to admit of an [Page 24]Appraisement; and that adding those Goods Sworn to be on Board, besides those Entred; to those which were Entred, I would consent to pass it, without the Charge of unloading, &c. To which (by advice) I consented; and because it should be done as exactly as possible, de­fired that the Land-wayter and Tydes-men who had been concerned in her Unloading before-hand might be Appraisers, and then Mr. Sutton giving in good Security according to Law, he might go on his Voyage as soon as he pleased; which I verily thought, as did Mr. Rogers also, would be the safest and cheapest way on all sides: But when it came to that, the persons named for Commissioners would not stand; they had dispatch'd the Ship Legally (as they said) and would not be concerned in any other manner. So I was forced to nominate other Commissioners and Appraisers, who would not Act without they saw the Goods, and that could not be done without unloading the Ship, which proved a very great Charge for me: In the mean time (almost three Weeks after my Seizure) the Commissioners here, order'd their Collector and Surveyor of Falmouth to admit the Guns to an Entry, which they did without my consent, or knowledge when I came to hear it; I Protested against it, and wrote to the Commissioners thereof; But instead of an Answer according to Law (for Ʋpton himself had said the Seizure of the Guns was good) down comes a Letter to the said Collector and Surveyor, with Or­der to impart it to me, which intimated, that the former Entry was not right, either in quantity or quality, &c. And that the Informa­tion being in my Hand, they should get the Merchant to make a Post Entry according as I should advise them: They came to me about it, I told them the Guns were Forfeited, and the King should have his Moyety of the true value, or the Guns themselves: And I would not consent to an Illegal Entry, come what Order there would from the Commissioners; On which I sent for a Writ of Appraisement a part for Them, and on Oath they were Appraised at 871 l. 4 s. 0 d. the Kings Moyety amounted to 435 l. 12 s. 0 d. And on the Entry taken blind-fold by them, he had not above 7 l. 10 s. 0 d. So that the King lost thereby 428 l. 12 s. 0 d. and I lost 435 d 12 s. 0. When I would not obey the said Order, they got a Writ of Delivery, which also I would not obey, they being no Perishable Commodities, &c. And the Writ obtained contrary to the Statute 14 Car. 2. viz. ‘ Be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, that no Writ of De­livery shall be granted out of the Court of Exchequer for Goods seized, but upon good Security, and that for Goods [Page 25]perishable only, or in cases where the Informer shall defer or delay his coming to a speedy Tryal, as the course of that Court will permit, and shall be thereby ordered and directed.’ Now all men know, that Copper-Guns are not Perishable; And 'twas the midle of Hillary Term before they were taken out of the Ship, or seen; and no Tryal could be brought on before the date of the Writ of Delivery, which was the last day of that Term; also many times on such occasions, such Writs are disobeyed. However I being Im­prisoned, the Collector of Penryn was threatned by the Commis­sioners to be cashier'd his place, if he did not take off his Lock; which he for fear did, and mine was broken open, and the Guns forceably carried away before any Tryal was brought on for them; If any question the Truth thereof, I refer my self to the Commissioners own Letters, written to the Collector and Surveyor of Falmouth, and the Collector of Penryn on that occasion. All the rest of the Ships Car­goe (as well as Guns) was unloaden and secured in divers Ware­houses at Penryn; and both sides preparing for a Tryal against the next Assizes, and about the time half the Ships load was on shoar, I was Arrested coming on Shore at the Strand of Falmouth, at the Suit of Henry Sutton in an Action of 2000 l. And Parties being presently taken, I was like to be pluck'd in pieces betwixt my Friends and Foes, till Mr. Mayor came and secured the Peace; Then I desired an hours time to send to Penryn for Bail; But 'twas denyed me, and the County Prison being at Bodmin, almost 40 Miles thence; the di­rect way was through Penryn and Truro; I was within Pistol shot of my Lodging, but was not permitted by Sir Peter Killigrew (who Headed the Bailiffs and their Followers, being about 25 in number) to have my own Horse to ride on, nor my Boots, &c. to put on, but was set on an hard going Jade, with an heavy Bailiff behind me; and after some small stay in the Street, Sir Peter ordered us to ride down to the Rump end of the Town, and in that going down to his Key, the Fellow by the steepness of the descent was forced to lean on my back, that I was hardly able with all my Strength to keep my self from tumbling over the Horses Head; thence I was conducted into a Boat filled with Bailissa, &c. The Land-way being thought impassable by Sir Peter, and indeed (if I was not afterwards mis-informed) he conjectured right, for the Love of the Country was so Much for me, and so averse to the Jews and their Agent Sir Peter, that much Blood might have been spilt, if I had been carried in the direct way, and it had been impossible for me to prevent it: [Page 26]After I was put into the Boat, as abovesaid, Sir Peter thought it im­prudent either to let me stay there by his Key any considerable time, or to adventure me off without a strong Convoy, he saw my Friends assemble so thick at his very Face on the shoar, that he durst not let me come on Land again, but with all imaginable speed, got two Boats loaden with men more to guard me; My Friends seeing it, sent some in a small Boat to know of me if they should attempt my Rescue on the Water: I gave them for Answer, that I thank'd them for their Zeal to me; but withall, that the Law must have its course; that I was sorry so much trouble had been already given on either side, and that they could not demonstrate their Kindness to me by any way more, than to let me go quietly to Prison, and there let me hear from them: All my Friends accordingly submitted, but Sir Peters jealousy remained, for doubting the Fidelity of all those men, he sent one of his own Principal Servants to over-see them, and to direct Mr. Under-Sheriff at Bodmin, and the Keeper of the Goal there, to take such care of me as they ought to do in cases of the highest Crimes imaginable. But as soon as we were out of Sir Pe­ter's sight, all my Guardians protested Friendship to me, and pit­tied my hard usage, excusing themselves, by the Obligation their Duty and Sir Peter's Commands bound them to; and indeed at Tre­gony, where we Lodged the first night, and all our way to Bodmin we cheerfully past the time, having for my self a just cause to en­liven me, and my Guards no doubt of an Escape intended by me. The next day about noon we arrived at Bodmin, where I was de­livered to the Keeper, but by so numerous a Train, that neither the Keeper, (though about 70 years old,) or any of that Town or Country, had ever seen the like; and every one almost had a pe­culiar fancy to know the reason thereof: Sir Peter's Man (accord­ing to the Instructions he had of his Master) having spoke to the Under-Sheriff and the Keeper, and so left me.

Almost as soon as they were gone, the Keeper came to me, and on my asking him, told me what directions he had from Sir Peter's Man; But withall told me, he valued it not, neither look'd he on me as dangerous, but very frankly offered me liberty to go to the Tavern there, without any Keeper; and accordingly taking him­self and another old man with me of his old acquaintance, we went to the Tavern; at our coming home again, I met a supply of Mo­ney from Falmouth: The next day Mr. Sheriff came and gave me a visit, and the day after I was Bailed out, and immediately return­ed [Page 27]to Falmouth, totally discharged the Ship of her Loading, and then cleared the Ship from any farther stop; soon after I was told more Writs were Issued out against me, and against every one that had acted by my Order, and that wherever we were in that Country no cost would be spared to catch us; which indeed I concluded to be true, because Sir Peter had formerly protested the same; and two of those I imployed were taken, viz. John King and Thomas Chapman; who were carried to Bodmin, and there lay 10 Months in Prison, at the Suits of Mr. Gomasera, Losad [...] and Sutton, King for 7000 l. Chapman for 11565 l. Some fled for fear, and others by making Friendship with Sir Peter were spar'd, though Writs had been taken out against all of them, and the least I ever heard of, was 5000 l. Therefore I thought it my best way to come for London, there to prepare for the Iryal; when I was come thither, the Jews had no­tice of it, and treated me both with fair Offers and Threats; if I would not carry on the Tryal, they offered me 150 Guineys by Mr Hutchinson, which Mr. Levy the Jew hath since told me, would have been made 200, if I would take it: I answered, that I would do nothing without leave from the Commissioners, and that the King should equally have share in any Composition I made, but Mr. Hutchinson prest the contrary, saying, If I made an end for my self, none would prosecute the Case any further; But I would not do it, knowing it to be contrary to Law, &c. Though almost daily practised in this Port of London: On which came on our Tryal at Lanceston the following Assizes, my Information being grounded on the Act of Tunnage and Poundage, and the 12 Act of the Book of Rates, &c. For not paying His Majesties Alien Duty; and in case that point should be over-ruled, I entred also about 30 C. weight of Ginger in the same Information, which had not paid any Duty at all, either by Jew or Gentile, to be sure of a Verdict. All along the Goods were wholly claimed by Mr Sutton and Mr. Skinner, Ma­ster and Mate of the said Ships till at the Tryal the aforesaid Pat­tent of Gomasera and Losado was produced and read in Court, and a French man and a Jew Servants to them, Swore the whole Cargo belonged to the said Gomasera and Losad, contrary to the Seamens Affidavit, &c. They also produced a Certificate from the Custom­house London, which was read, and by a Jury composed of one Principal and eleven Talismen, I was cast. And I cannot but hint that it was about the time when Ignoramus Juries were in fashi­on; and that to assist the King with Money was Voted a Crime.

On which all the Goods Tryed, I ordered to be deliver­ed, which was done; but ordered that the Guns which were not Tryed should remain; however they were by force got a­way, as I have afore-mentioned. Then, though all the Goods were thus delivered, yet the Jews Spleen was further Exaspe­rated; they took out more Writs against me, that I could no longer remain in the Country, so I came for London, and Lodged in the Precincts of the Temple; thence I frequently wrote to the Com­missioners of the Customs, giving them an Account of what had past, and that I was assured I should be Arrested in a very great Action by the Jews, if I appeared abroad; except they would Protect me: But in fine, had for Answer, a day appointed to appear before them, without any Promise of Safety; which if I did not do, they would dismiss me, and that in the mean time I stood Suspended: When the day came on, which was in the beginning of May 1681. I was again informed that I should certainly be Arrested if I came there, I declined appearing, giving the Commissioners my reasons for it; but they proceeded to dismiss me, according to the Resolutions they had taken among themselves. Then Sutton came on hard against my Bail; to whom, by consent, I yielded my self Prisoner, in an Action of 8000 l.

And the last day of Trinity Term, came into the Fleet Prison in Lon­don; where I had not been many days but some earnest business called me abroad again: Mr. Warden gave me leave to go with a Waiter, and I went to the Custom-house, where I met with Sir Peter Killigrew, who appeared just as became a Champion of the Jews, and of their Cause, telling me plainly, That he would make me Rot in Pri­son, that I must never expect to come out thence till Death, &c. And in the Evening I returned to the Fleet, where, in a day or two the said Jews Gomasera and Losado lodged Writs of Habeas Corpus against me for 5000 l. more; so all that long vocation I was continued a Prisoner: But when ever I had business abroad, and applyed my self to Mr. Warden, he freely gave me leave to go. When the Term was approaching, one Mr. Morasse a Jew, coming to speak with a Jeweller then in the Fleet; with whom Accidentally I was in Com­pany: The said Jew told me, He knew how my business had gone; and advised me to make Peace with the Jews at any rate; assuring me, That they were resolved not to spare their Purses, and that he knew when that Frenchman and Jew went down to Lanceston to mannage the Tryal against me there; they carried out 1000 Guineys along [Page 29]with them, and did not bring back five. Which Vaunting Speech I was not daunted at, But the Term being on, I had six Hearings be­fore the Barons of the Exchequer, and in conclusion made an end betwixt our selves, they giving me about 50 l. in Money, and ta­king off all their Actions; and I giving a general Release to them, to their Agent Sir Peter to the Collector and Surveyor of Falmouth, and to as many more as they would Name; who for their part offered the same to me; but I, (as Innocent) scorned any: Thus was I after above 600 l. Expence forced to make this end with them then, not without a perfect resolution to have another touch at them the next opportunity I could meet with: Then I endeavoured to clear my self from the Debts I had contracted in Prison, and in the Law Suits, and found that I wanted about 30 l. to do the whole. And considering my Imprisonment arose only from my Fidelity in my Imploy, I thought on Petitioning for my Sallary during my Im­prisonment; and for a further Employ; in both which I was advised to get an Interest with Sir Nicholas Butler, and accordingly I did; but thought it most proper to pursue my Designs for an Imploy first: And I pitch'd on such an one, as none ever had had before, viz. A Commission to put in Execution the following Proposals,

☞ Note, That these Proposals were given Sir Nicholas Butler three years since, yet the Jews to this day are permitted to Trade as before.

Sir Nicholas Butler seemed to be much taken with these Propo­sals, and assured me of his greatest Assistance, and ordered me to make three Copies thereof for him, two wereof, he said, he would give to persons of Honour at Court, and the other keep himself; which accordingly he had, and for about three Months time, fair Promises of full Authority attended me from him, on which I de­pended.

About the begining of June 1682. Monsigneur Lewis Parent, an intire Friend of mine, and an Associate with some Jews, came to me and demanded of me if I was about to have any new Contests with the Jews; I demanded in Answer, what reason he had to put that question to me; he Answered, That some Jews had told him, I was tampering with some at Court about it, and bid him in Friendship to advise me to desist. I, that had no further imparted my designs than to Sir Nicholas Butler and Mr. Sanson protested Ignorance in the Case, but Monsigneur Parent believed the Jews beyond me. Some few days after, Sir Nicholas told me, He found that the Exe­cution of my Proposals would be both hazardous and difficult, and in fine would not advise me to undertake it, or assist me in it; But said, he had thought of another Imploy for me, and that was to be his Clerk, which I accepted, and about Midsummer 1682 came to him: Then I thought I should not fail of an opportunity to pro­cure my Sallary also during my Imprisonment, and in short time I drew a Petition to the Lords of the Treasury, Sir Nicholas promising to get it Read and Referred: But I had not been above two Months in his Service before an Ancient Friend of mine told me, that I must not expect to tarry much longer with Sir Nicholas; I could not be­lieve it, knowing no reason for it; and desired him to tell me who he had it from and he said, it was from the chief Servant of a great Wine-Merchant; who also gave his reason for it, That I saw too much, and that they must rid me thence, &c. And truly I soon found that such a design was on foot; for Sir Nicholas who had promised [Page 31]his Friendship in getting my Money from the Treasury, delayed it, though I did perpetually press him to make good his Promise in that particular, for that my Charges continued running on at the Fleet; and that I was dayly called on for some small Debts I had con­tracted in my Imprisonments, all which, that Money would then clear, and leave me about 30 l. in my Pocket. Now usually every week, or 10 days, Sir Nicholas would give me a great many Let­ters and Papers out of his Pockets to fold and lay up, and for three times following I always met my Petition amongst them, though he had been divers times at Whitehall, and promised to get it dis­patch'd: But when I saw it so delayed, I took out my Petition and Reference from the Lords of the Treasury my self, and shewed it Sir Nicholas first; he demanded how I got it, I told him, by some Friendship I met at the Treasury Chamber; at which he shook his Head and Frown'd; however, fed me with fair words, ordered me to give it to Mr. Sanson, and still promised he would be my Friend: Mr. Sanson told me he would Read it the first opportunity he could meet with, but he said Sir George Downing would be my Enemy, and he would get it done when he was Absent: This was only a put off; and do what I could it was the 28th. of August 1683, before it was read, and Sir George Downing was not only present, but Chair­man too at that time, and he dispatch'd it, by which it plainly ap­peared that Sir Nicholas Butler and Mr. Sanson, on whose Friendships I wholly depended, were the only persons that occasioned this de­lay, which proved of very ill consequence to me; for my Debt dayly Increased at the Fleer; and other persons being prompted to change their Words into Actions, they did so, and served them on me always publickly at the Custom-house, or Sir Nicholas his Door; and in fine, gave opportunity for Sir Nicholas to tell me, that he thought it Improper to have a Servant under such Circum­stances; and on the other hand I still prest him for dispatch of the Money at the Treasury, which would clear them all: But I found that was kept from me, on purpose to expose me in that nature, and thereby force me to spart from Sir Nicholas, which I did about Midsummer 1683. After I was gone from him, I went to some that I owed Money to, who scorned to meddle with me, knowing how ill I had been dealt with: But my Enemies at Custom-house seeing that, and that my Report was past in my Favour, gave out, that I had lost my place, and was going beyond Sea; on which Mr. Warden sent for me, and Confin'd me again for his Debt: I told [Page 32]him how my Case stood, and how my Design was, but at that time could not prevail for any Liberty: Sir Nicholas Butler's Clerk came to me often (from his Master no doubt) and proffered me to pay the Warden, and to furnish me with Money to go to Ireland, and there I should be assured of a very good Imploy; I thank'd him for his Kindness, but resolved to try England a little longer: But desired him to hasten up my Report to the Lords of the Treasury, that I might thence raise Money to clear my self; This being at the be­ginning of September, the Lords of the Treasury were Adjourn'd till the latter end of October; as soon as they sat, and the first day the Commissioners of the Customs went up to meet their Lord­ships, my Report was carried up, and read, but (thanks to Mr. Sanson) he had lost both my Petition and Reference, so that their Lordships could order nothing thereon, which did fully demonstrate where the stop lay, and no remedy for me but Patience. Yet a­bout Christmass some contest happening betwixt the Collector and Surveyor of Plymouth; I was by order of the Commissioners of the Customs, to appear at Custom house London; Mr. Warden of the Fleet permitted it: And after I had dispatch'd the business they had for me, I mov'd my own concern, on which they made an Order that I should draw another Petition, and to that the foresaid Re­port should be Affixed and carried up to the Lords of the Treasury the next time they went up; accordingly I drew another Petition and gave it to Mr. Sanson, and by the 22 day of March following, I got a Warrant from the Lords of the Treasury for 62 l. 10 s. 0 d. for five Quarters upon my Sallary of 50 l. 0 s. 0 d per Annum during my former Imprisonment. Then I thought my self on the brink of Liberty, and Assigned over the said Warrant to Mr. Warden, who sent it by one of his Servants to the Commissioners of the Cu­stoms, who instead of paying my Money according to the War­rant, kept both Money and Warrant, and thereon continued me a Prisoner in the Fleet: However Mr. Warden seeing how basely I was dealt with, was very favourable to me in letting me go abroad when I pleas'd.

But the same day Mr. Culliford went away for Ireland, one Mr. Plumb Servant to Mr. Prowse Solicitor of the Customs, invited me to drink a Glass of Wine with him at the Mitre-Tavern in St. Pauls Church-yard; I promised to meet him, and did so, the 15th. of September 1684. (having my Wayter with me,) when I came to him, he began to discourse about Mr. Culliford's going to Ireland, [Page 33]and about Writs of Delivery, Notes of Recovery, and Writs of Appraisment, which are Instruments much abused by those Intrust­ed by His Majesty for the Mannaging His Moyety of Seizures, and did particularly appear of late by the discovery of the great Villanies committed by Levi the Jew, and this very Fellow Plumb; the Exa­mination whereof was before the Commissioners; and though the Fraud appeared so plain that Plumb was forced to Re-fund about 200 Guinyes which he had cheated the King of; yet he is not only continued in his place, but was thought on for the fittest man to Trepan me. After we had drank two Pints of Wine, we parted; and as soon as I was got into the Street with my Wayter, was Ar­rested at the Suit of the King for 17 l. 10 s. 0 d. pretended to be due to His Majesty long since, but unknown to me; and away was I hurryed immediatly to the Poultry Compter; The next day Mr. Warden sent to demand me, but could not prevail; the Serjeants had such strict Orders to keep me, and no Judge of the Common-Pleas being then in Town, I was forced to stay there till the Term; and after that came, I was stayed by Tricks there till the 27th. of November, when my third Hebeas Corpus brought me again to the Fleet at my own Charge: The Suit against me was by Writ; and my Person being put in the Compter, must be removed by the Plain­tiff, before I could be declared against: So that what Charges Plumb, or his Master hath put the King to in Arresting and Carrying me to the Compter, was the Product of their Malice against me, and to make good Sir Nicholas Butler's Prorestations, That I shall Rot in Prison, and never come out again, Rather than for any thing tending to his Masters Interest; time will shew why they deal so severely with me. In the interim, I will only give the Reader the sight of a Copy of my Warrant, and a few Remarks thereon, and so con­clude.

By this Warrant you may see, That though I had been very hardly thought of by the Commissioners themselves, and that I had obeyed the Laws before their Letters; yet they could not chuse but give me a good Report, owning that I acted according to Law, and upon probable Grounds; and that the Ship was unduly Cleared by the Officers of Falmouth: And that I had done good Service in Searching the Ship, and making such discovery as I did: And fur­ther, that they own there was a Forseiture, but that they did not encourage the Prosecution thereof: Upon the whole, I shall pre­sume to make the following Quaries.

First Whether an Officer of the Customs in an Out-Port, who hath taken an Oath according to the Statute 14 Car 2 (viz.) ‘[ Be it hereby also Enacted, that all Deputies, Clerks and Servants, which now have any place or Office in or about the Customs and Subsidies, by and under the Commissioners, or other the Kings Officers thereof: Shall before the 1st of June next, take their respective Corporal Oaths, for the True and Faithful Execution and Discharge, to the best of their knowledge and Power, of their several Trusts and Im­ployments committed to their Charge and Inspection; and that no person or persons shall hereafter be Imployed or put in Trust in the business of the Customs, until he shall have first taken his Oath as aforesaid.]’ Is obliged to Act ac­cording to that Oath, to his Knowledge and Power; or on the con­trary, submit to the Pleasure of the Commissioners grounded on false Suggestions, or Private Humour.

I make this Quaery, because the Commissioners first Letter was grounded on the false Allegations of the Jews and their Agents; and it was carried on, on the private Humour (and perhaps Interest too) of Mr. Ʋpton and a certain Clerk Assistant.

Secondly, Whether after Goods are legally Seized by an Officer, and consequently are in the hands of the Law, can be admitted to an Entry by the Commissioners without the consent of the Officer, and without Prosecution according to Law, 14 Car. 2. viz. ‘ And that no Infor­mer [Page 36]or Officer shall be suffered to Compound under one Third of the Appraised value, upon loss of his Office.’

I make this Quary, because the King lost by the Commissioners admitting three Guns to an Entry a Month after I had Seized them, 428 l. 2 s. 0 d. and my self 435 l. 12 s. 0 d. if the Commissioners or Jews do not make it good.

Third, Whether the Commissioners are not both by the Law, and by their Places, obliged to Encourage and Assist their Inseriour Offices in the due Persecution of Forfeitures.

I make this Query, because by the Commissioners not Encoura­ging or assisting me in the Prosecution of the Forfeiture of all the Jews Goods in this Ship; the King lost His Moyety, which was at least 2500 l. more, and so much I lost by it my self.

I expect that divers persons whose Hands this may come to, will blame me for being so Severe with my Masters; But I hope they will suspend that, when they are assured that I have already been a Pri­soner almost 4 years, and on no other account, than for the Faithful Discharge of my Trust; that the greatest time thereof is occasion'd by the Non payment of the Money ordered me, and that it hath cost me about 800 l. besides, in discharging the Ship of her Lading, in Law Charges, and Expences; and conclude with me, that 'tis more Reasonable, as well as more Conscionable for them to make me some kind of Requital for my Zeal in His Majesties Service, than still to Persecute me for it.

And though these Proceedings look like an Act of the whole Board, yet I am perswaded that no particular Commissioner all along, except Mr. Ʋpton and Sir Nicholas Butler, had, or hath any private dis-respect for me, but that what they have Ordered con­cerning me, hath flown from the Character one of them, or Mr. Sanson hath given of me: And I believe also, that none except the aforesaid persons, and some others usually concerned with Levi the [Page 37] Jew, in abusing the King in His Moyety of Seizures, do as much as know of my being taken from my Wayter at the Fleet and clapt in­to the Compter.

I am only to add, that the way to prevent the Destruction of our Plantation Trade, is for the Commissioners, and all other Officers concerned to put our wholesome Laws in Execution, and for all English Merchants, and Masters or Commanders of Ships, to make exact Entries or Reports; and then of necessity our English Traders thither will rise as fast as the Jews: On pressing this Truth in many Companies, I never met more than one Objection, and that was this.

Objection, The Jews are a very Rich sort of People, their Trade is very great, they Imploy many Ships. &c. And should that be cut off, abundance of People, both here and the Plantations, would soon feel the want of them. Moreover, the King would be much lessened in His Customs, by breaking off their Trade.

Answer, A multitude of English-men have Money lying by them, which they would w [...]llingly Imploy in Merchandizing, had they any Encouragement; and you may be assured that the Vending of our own Product and Manufacture, as well as the Consumption of Forreign Commodities would not be lessened one jot, if there were not one Jew in England: Nay, if the English found Encouragement, it might be expected their Expence would be according; and so a greater Consumption would follow, and consequently an [...]dvance of His Majesties Customs.

And the Plantations will never want a Supply from England and from English-men if any Encouragement can be given to the Adven­turers thither, which can never be as long as Aliens are able to Under-sell them both Out and Home; and the Plantations are Dam­nified as much as England; For the Growth and Product of the Plantations equally suffer by their Sale in Europe, as doth the Growth Product and Manufacture of Europe in the Plantations. And for His Majesties Customs they cannot be lessened, for the whole Pro­duct of the Plantations (except what they make use of themselves) [Page 38]must be by Law brought into England, and Entred there: And be­sides, if the English did once arrive to this Encouragement, they would always supply the Plantations, with persons as well as Com­modities, which would Increase the Planters there, and consequent­ly the Bulk of their Product, the Imploy of Shipping, the Expence of European & Asian Commodities brought them from England, and Negroes from Africa by the English, and the Revenues of His Majesty both in England, and in the Plantations.